Salary · CA · SOC 31-2011

Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for occupational therapy assistants in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for occupational therapy assistants in California was $81,770 a year, or $39.31 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $65,680 to $104,990. About 3,840 were employed.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in California vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$81,770	$39.31	$72,300
Mean (average)	$84,690	$40.72	$70,710
10th percentile	$65,680	$31.58	$51,490
25th percentile	$76,350	$36.71	$61,710
75th percentile	$96,720	$46.50	$79,160
90th percentile	$104,990	$50.48	$89,780

Employment in California: 3,840. Location quotient: 0.64 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Occupational Therapy Assistant salary by metro area in California

Occupational Therapy Assistant median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$78,090	$37.55	1,720
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$80,070	$38.50	400
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$82,680	$39.75	360
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$97,860	$47.05	290
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$95,180	$45.76	170
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$95,370	$45.85	160
Fresno, CA	$76,030	$36.55	90
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$82,060	$39.45	80
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$84,400	$40.58	60
Visalia, CA	$81,200	$39.04	50
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$95,190	$45.77	40
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$86,440	$41.56	40
Modesto, CA	$96,210	$46.25	30

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in California

Median pay: $81,770 a year ($39.31 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $65,680 to $104,990 a year

Employed: 3,840

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$81,770</strong> a year ($39.31 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $65,680 to $104,990 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 3,840</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/occupational-therapy-assistant/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $39.31 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $31.58 and the 90th was $50.48.

What is the average COTA salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $84,690 a year and a median of $81,770 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do occupational therapy assistants in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $81,770 is 13% higher than the US median of $72,300 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for occupational therapy assistant pay?

California ranks 2 of 50 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-2011. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.